Dealerships and brokers may have increased interest rates on PCP or HP car finance agreements to boost their commissions through Discretionary Commission Arrangements (DCAs). This practice, which was not always transparent to consumers, resulted in them paying more overall for their finance. DCAs have been illegal since January 28, 2021. If you were not informed about these commissions, you could be entitled to claim compensation.

According to the FCA, approximately 70% of car finance agreements involved a discretionary commission arrangement (DCA) between 2007 and January 2021.

Claims can be made on Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or Hire Purchase (HP) agreements.

No. Leases and rental agreements are not eligible for commission-related claims.

If you financed a vehicle between 2007 and 2021, you may have been affected by undisclosed commission payments made to the dealership or broker. Once your claim is submitted, the lender will review whether this applies to your agreement.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has paused the standard 8-week complaints timeline for commission-related motor finance claims until 4 December 2025, due to ongoing investigations and legal proceedings. Final guidance is expected following a judicial review decision in May 2025. You can still submit a claim, but it will be held in a queue until lenders receive clear instructions on how to respond. This pause ensures that when claims are assessed, they are done so fairly and consistently.

No problem. We can request the relevant documents directly from your car finance provider. In most cases, this takes around 30 days.

Compensation amounts vary depending on factors like loan size, interest rate, agreement date, and term length. According to the FCA, a typical £10,000 motor finance agreement could result in £1,100 in excess charges over four years under a Discretionary Commission Arrangement (DCA). (Source: FCA Final Report on Motor Finance, March 2019, section 2.15)

Yes, if your finance agreement began before 28 January 2021, you may still be eligible. Finance agreements started after that date are unlikely to include undisclosed commission arrangements. We're happy to check this for you.

No, you can make a complaint yourself for free and escalate it to the Financial Ombudsman Service, also free of charge. You may also seek help from a consumer group or legal professional if preferred. Using a representative like us can make the process simpler and more efficient, especially if you'd like support from a team with experience in motor finance claims.

It means you only pay if your claim is successful. If your claim is not successful, you pay nothing. This is also called a Conditional Fee Agreement. If successful, there is typically a charge between 15% and 30% plus VAT, up to a maximum of 36% (including VAT) of the amount recovered. If you cancel after the 14-day cooling-off period, a cancellation fee may apply. Please check your solicitor's client pack for full details and ask any questions directly to them.